The weekend's matches previewed
Today
O'Byrne Cup
Dublin v Wicklow, Parnell Park, 5pm - Midfielder Eamon Fennell and wing back Philip McMahon are awarded debuts in an experimental Dublin team that does still include the Brogan brothers, Alan and Bernard, Ross McConnell at full back and Collie Moran at centre back. Forwards Declan Lally and Barry Kennedy are rewarded for recent good form, while midfielder Declan O'Mahony is tried out at full forward.
Wicklow's veteran Tommy Gill has returned for a second season under Mick O'Dwyer but the Tommy Murphy Cup holders will struggle to make any inroads in the capital.
Tomorrow
O'Byrne Cup
Westmeath v Dublin IT, Mullingar, 2pm - DIT have enough young talent to keep pace here but if Westmeath can maintain the form of recent seasons they should be able to pull clear. Still, the Leinster title-winning achievement of 2003 is now just a fading memory.
Wexford v Laois, Wexford, 2pm - Year two of the Liam Kearns revolution gets underway for Laois but if they have not added the much-needed power to a highly skilful style they can forget about making any significant inroads when the serious football starts later on in the year.
Carlow v Kilkenny, Dr Cullen Park, 2pm - New Carlow manager Paul Bealin has managed to tempt Brian Farrell, Brian Carberry, Mark Carpenter and John Hayden, amongst others, back into the fold but it's still a development process in the midlands. Kilkenny won't cause them any problems though.
Kildare v Longford, Newbridge, 2pm - Another new coaching ticket as Kieran McGeeney and Paul Grimley field their first competitive Kildare team against Luke Dempsey's charges. Longford should be further down the development path by now.
Offaly v Athlone IT, Tullamore, 2pm - Pat Roe to begin year two of his tenure in Offaly with what should be a straight -forward victory.
McGrath Cup
Waterford v University of Limerick, Dungarvan, 2pm - If Waterford can transfer the success of Ballinacourty, who made the Munster club final, to the intercounty scene they could be in for a progressive year.
Clare v University College Cork, Miltown-Malbay, 2pm - This match should produce the only victory for a third-level team against intercounty opposition.
Waterford Crystal Cup
Clare v University of Limerick, Mellick, 2pm - No Davy Fitzgerald due to injury but new manager Mike McNamamra backtracked on comments attributed to him earlier this week that stated the long-serving goalkeeper may be overlooked due to a preference for younger talent.
It seems the spectre of Fitzgerald is set to overshadow another management regime in Clare hurling.
Dr McKenna Cup
Section A: Armagh v Derry, Lurgan, 2pm - Game of the weekend as Peter McDonnell sends his first Armagh team into battle. Ronan Clarke and Brain Mallon have returned from injury while Aidan O'Rourke is recalled after an 18-month absence.
St Mary's v Fermanagh, Lisnaskea, 2pm - New Fermanagh manager Malachy O'Rourke must plan without Tom Brewster, Niall Bogue and Barry Owens for the opening fixture against the Belfast college that contains a number of decent underage players.
Section B: UUJ v Tyrone, Omagh, 2pm - Mickey Harte gives seven players a first intercounty start as he hopes for a campaign unlike the previous two when Tyrone were cursed by injuries. The presence of Owen Mulligan and Enda McGinley should provide enough quality to see off the students.
Section C: Cavan v Monaghan, Breffni Park , 2pm - Anthony Rooney and Raymond Ronaghan return to Séamus McEneaney's Monaghan panel as they attempt to build on the form that brought them to an Ulster final and just seconds from knocking Kerry out in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
FBD League (Connacht football) Section A: Sligo IT v Roscommon, Ballinode, 1pm - All appears well again in Roscommon after John Maughan welcomed Frankie Dolan, Senan Kilbride and Jonathan Dunning back into the fold. They may not feature today but considering the 2006 minors are nearing maturity the expectation levels will increase.
Mayo v NUI Galway, Ballinode, 1pm - John O'Mahony has already called this competition a "non-event" as he works with just a 20-man squad but even a shadow Mayo line-up will expect to chart a safe passage here.
Section B: Galway v Sligo, Tuam, 1pm - A repeat of last year's Connacht final when Sligo shocked Galway. New Galway manager Liam Sammon will be more concerned with removing the driftwood that has weighed down the panel in recent times.
Leitrim v GMIT, Carrick-on-Shannon, 1pm - Leitrim manager Dessie Dolan fields an experimental team against the GMIT students as he prepares for the National League campaign.
